Victory Over Evil Forces

Memory text: Romans 8:37

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Sabbath Afternoon

Sunday – A Stage Set for Our Victory

Ephesians 1:18-22

18 the eyes of your understanding being
enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are
the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what
is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according
to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He
raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the
heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and
dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in
that which is to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

Monday – Hope of Victory

Romans 8:26-39

26
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know
what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.27 Now He who
searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He
makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love
God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom
He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His
Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover
whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also
justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

31
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be
against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up
for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33
Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is
also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes
intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,
or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who
loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels
nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39
nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Tuesday – Christians Versus the Devil

James 4:7

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:6-10

6
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may
exalt you in due time,7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for
you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil
walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist
him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are
experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all
grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you
have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Ephesians 4:27

27 nor give place to the devil.

Ephesians 6:11

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

1 Peter 5:10

10
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish,
strengthen, and settle you.

Wednesday – Examples of Victory

Matthew 10:1-8

1
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power
over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of
sickness and all kinds of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve
apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his
brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and
Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of
Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the
Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

5 These
twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the
way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go
rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go,
preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick,
cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have
received, freely give.

Mark 6:7

7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

Mark 6:12-13

12
So they went out and preached that people should repent.13 And they
cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and
healed them.

Luke 9:1-2

1 Then He called His twelve
disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons,
and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to
heal the sick.

Luke 10:1-20

1 After these things the Lord
appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face
into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He
said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few;
therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His
harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4
Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along
the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this
house.’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if
not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and
drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his
wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and
they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the
sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into
its streets and say, 11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us
we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God
has come near you.’ 12 But I say to you that it will be more tolerable
in that Day for Sodom than for that city.

13 “Woe to you,
Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done
in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long
ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable
for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum,
who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. 16 He who
hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me
rejects Him who sent Me.”

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

18
And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions,
and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt
you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are
subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in
heaven.”

Luke 10:17

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

Luke 10:9

9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Luke 10:20

20
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to
you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Thursday - Examples of Victory (The Book of Acts)

John 14:16

16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—

Acts 5:12-16

12
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done
among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.
13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them
highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes
of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the
streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of
Peter passing by might fall on some of them.16 Also a multitude gathered
from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and
those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Acts 3:1-11

1
Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of
prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb
was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is
called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who,
seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And
fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he
gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I
give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7
And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his
feet and ankle bones received strength.8 So he, leaping up, stood and
walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising
God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they
knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the
temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had
happened to him.

11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to
Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which
is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.

Acts 16:16-18

16 Now
it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed
with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit
by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out,
saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim
to us the way of salvation.”18 And this she did for many days.

But
Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in
the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very
hour.

Friday – Further Study

Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 662-680

Ellen G. White, Faith and Works, p. 93

Called to Be Faithful Stewards

God calls upon those to whom He has entrusted His goods to acquit
themselves as faithful stewards. The Lord would have all things of
temporal interest occupy a secondary place in the heart and thoughts;
but Satan would have the matters of the earth take the first place in
our lives. The Lord would have us approve the things that are
excellent. He shows us the conflict in which we must engage, reveals
the character and plan of redemption. He lays open before you the
perils you will meet, the self-denial that will be required, and He
bids you count the cost, assuring you that if you zealously engage in
the conflict, divine power will combine with human effort. {FW 92.2}
The Christian’s warfare is not a warfare waged against flesh and blood
but against principalities, against powers, against spiritual
wickedness in high places. The Christian must contend with supernatural
forces, but he is not to be left alone to engage in the conflict. The
Saviour is the captain of his salvation, and with Him man may be more
than conqueror. {FW 92.3}
The world’s Redeemer would not have man in ignorance of Satan’s
devices. The vast confederacy of evil is arrayed against those who
would overcome; but Christ would have us look to the things that are
not seen, to the armies of heaven that encamp round about those who
love God, to deliver them. The angels of heaven are interested in
behalf of man. The power of Omnipotence is at the service of those who
trust in God. The Father accepts the righteousness of Christ in behalf
of His followers, and they are surrounded with light and holiness which
Satan cannot penetrate. The voice of the Captain of our salvation
speaks to His followers, saying, “‘Be of good cheer; I have overcome
the world.’ I am your defense; advance to victory.” {FW 93.1}

The Cross of Calvary

Through Christ, restoration as well as reconciliation is provided for
man. The gulf that was made by sin has been spanned by the cross of
Calvary. A full, complete ransom has been paid by Jesus, by virtue of
which the sinner is pardoned and the justice of the law is maintained.
All who believe that Christ is the atoning sacrifice may come and
receive pardon for their sins; for through the merit of Christ,
communication has been opened between God and man. God can accept me as
His child, and I can claim Him and rejoice in Him as my loving Father.
{FW 93.2}
We must center our hopes of heaven upon Christ alone, because He is our
Substitute and Surety. We have transgressed the law of God, and by the
deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified. The best efforts that man
in his own strength can make are valueless to meet the holy and just
law that he has transgressed; but through faith in Christ he may claim
the righteousness of the Son of God as all-sufficient. Christ satisfied
the demands of the law in His human nature. He bore the curse of the
law for the sinner, made an atonement for him, “that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Genuine
faith appropriates the righteousness of Christ, and the sinner is made
an overcomer with Christ; for he is made a partaker of the divine
nature, and thus divinity and humanity are combined. {FW 93.3}

Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Book 3, p. 310.

God’s Character Interpreted by his Works—Nature
is a power, but the God of nature is unlimited in power. His works
interpret his character. Those who judge Him from his handiworks, and
not from the suppositions of great men, will see his presence in
everything. They behold his smile in the glad sunshine, and his love
and care for man in the rich fields of autumn. Even the adornments of
the earth, as seen in the grass of living green, the lovely flowers of
every hue, and the lofty and varied trees of the forest, testify to the
tender, fatherly care of our God, and to his desire to make his
children happy. {3SM 309.2}

The power of the great God will be exerted in behalf of those that
fear Him. Listen to the words of the prophet: “Hast thou not known?
hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of
the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no
searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to
them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall
faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But they that
wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with
wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk,
and not faint” (Verses 28-31). {3SM 310.1}

In the Word of God many queries are raised that the most profound
scholars can never answer. Attention is called to these subjects to
show us how many things there are, even among the common things of
everyday life, that finite minds, with all their boasted wisdom, can
never fully comprehend. {3SM 310.2}

Science an Aid to Understand God—All
the systems of philosophy devised by men have led to confusion and
shame when God has not been recognized and honored. To lose faith in
God is terrible. Prosperity cannot be a great blessing to nations or
individuals, when once faith in his Word is lost. Nothing is truly
great but that which is eternal in its tendencies. Truth, justice,
mercy, purity, and the love of God, are imperishable. When men possess
these qualities, they are brought into close relationship to God, and
are candidates for the highest exaltation to which the race can aspire.
They will disregard human praise, and will be superior to
disappointment, weariness, the strife of tongues, and contentions for
supremacy. {3SM 310.3}

He whose soul is imbued with the Spirit of God will learn the lesson
of confiding trust. Taking the Written Word as his counselor and guide,
he will find in science an aid to understand God, but he will not
become exalted, till, in his blind self-conceit, he is a fool in his
ideas of God.—The Signs of the Times, March 13, 1884. {3SM 310.4}

The precepts and principles of religion are the first steps in the
acquisition of knowledge, and lie at the very foundation of true
education. Knowledge and science must be vitalized by the Spirit of God
in order to serve the noblest purposes. The Christian alone can make
the right use of knowledge. Science, in order to be fully appreciated,
must be viewed from a religious standpoint. Then all will worship the
God of science.”—Manuscript 30, 1896. {3SM 311.1}

Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 130-131

When
the tempter offered to Christ the kingdom and glory of the world, he
was proposing that Christ should yield up the real kingship of the
world, and hold dominion subject to Satan. This was the same dominion
upon which the hopes of the Jews were set. They desired the kingdom of
this world. If Christ had consented to offer them such a kingdom, they
would gladly have received Him. But the curse of sin, with all its woe,
rested upon it. Christ declared to the tempter, "Get thee behind Me,
Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him
only shalt thou serve."

By the one who had revolted in heaven the
kingdoms of this world were offered Christ, to buy His homage to the
principles of evil; but He would not be bought; He had come to establish
a kingdom of righteousness, and He would not abandon His purpose. With
the same temptation Satan approaches men, and here he has better success
than with Christ. To men he offers the kingdom of this world on
condition that they will acknowledge his supremacy. He requires that
they sacrifice integrity, disregard conscience, indulge selfishness.
Christ bids them seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness;
but Satan walks by their side and says: Whatever may be true in regard
to life eternal, in order to make a success in this world you must serve
me. I hold your welfare in my hands. I can give you riches, pleasures,
honor, and happiness. Hearken to my counsel. Do not allow yourselves to
be carried away with whimsical notions of honesty or self-sacrifice. I
will prepare the way before you. Thus multitudes are deceived. They
consent to live for the service of self, and Satan is satisfied. While
he allures them with the hope of worldly dominion, he gains dominion
over the soul. But he offers that which is not his to bestow, and which
is soon to be wrested from him. In return he beguiles them of their
title to the inheritance of the sons of God.

Satan had questioned
whether Jesus was the Son of God. In his summary dismissal he had proof
that he could not gainsay. Divinity flashed through suffering humanity.
Satan had no power to resist the command. Writhing with humiliation and
rage, he was forced to withdraw from the presence of the world's
Redeemer. Christ's victory was as complete as had been the failure of
Adam.

So we may resist temptation, and force Satan to depart from
us. Jesus gained the victory through submission and faith in God, and by

the
apostle He says to us, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the
devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw
nigh to you." James 4:7, 8. We cannot save ourselves from the tempter's
power; he has conquered humanity, and when we try to stand in our own
strength, we shall become a prey to his devices; but "the name of the
Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."
Prov. 18:10. Satan trembles and flees before the weakest soul who finds
refuge in that mighty name.

Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 489-493

The
True Witness says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock." Rev. 3:20.
Every warning, reproof, and entreaty in the word of God or through His
messengers is a knock at the door of the heart. It is the voice of Jesus
asking for entrance. With every knock unheeded, the disposition to open
becomes weaker. The impressions of the Holy Spirit if disregarded
today, will not be as strong tomorrow. The heart becomes less
impressible, and lapses into a perilous unconsciousness of the shortness
of life, and of the great eternity beyond. Our condemnation in the
judgment will not result from the fact that we have been in error, but
from the fact that we have neglected heaven-sent opportunities for
learning what is truth.

Like the apostles, the seventy had
received supernatural endowments as a seal of their mission. When their
work was completed, they returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the
devils are subject unto us through Thy name." Jesus answered, "I beheld
Satan as lightning fall from heaven."

The scenes of the past and
the future were presented to the mind of Jesus. He beheld Lucifer as he
was first cast out from the heavenly places. He looked forward to the
scenes of His own agony, when before all the worlds the character of the
deceiver should be unveiled. He heard the cry, "It is finished" (John
19:30), announcing that the redemption of the lost race was forever made
certain, that heaven was made eternally secure against the accusations,
the deceptions, the pretensions, that Satan would instigate.

Beyond
the cross of Calvary, with its agony and shame, Jesus looked forward to
the great final day, when the prince of the power of the air will meet
his destruction in the earth so long marred by his rebellion. Jesus
beheld the work of evil forever ended, and the peace of God filling
heaven and earth.

Henceforward Christ's followers were to look
upon Satan as a conquered foe. Upon the cross, Jesus was to gain the
victory for them; that victory He desired them to accept as their own.
"Behold," He said, "I give unto you power to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any
means hurt you."

The omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit is the
defense of every contrite soul. Not one that in penitence and faith has
claimed His protection will Christ permit to pass under the enemy's
power. The Saviour is by the side of His tempted and tried ones. With
Him there can be no such thing as failure, loss, impossibility, or
defeat; we can do all things through Him who strengthens us. When
temptations and trials come, do not wait to adjust all the difficulties,
but look to Jesus, your helper.

There are Christians who think
and speak altogether too much about the power of Satan. They think of
their adversary, they pray about him, they talk about him, and he looms
up greater and greater in their imagination. It is true that Satan is a
powerful being; but, thank God, we have a mighty Saviour, who cast out
the evil one from heaven. Satan is pleased when we magnify his power.
Why not talk of Jesus? Why not magnify His power and His love?